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The Strength of Schedule takes the results from all defensive performances last season and then applies the stats allowed against quarterbacks, running backs and receivers to determine who will have the easier schedule. This is determined by taking the best and worst venues for offenses to face and comparing those statistics allowed against the current NFL schedule for each team. Unlike strength of schedules used during the regular season which only considers the 32 defenses, this look back at last year considers the 64 venues that can happen – facing each defense either home or away.

To remove the effects of the really bad or good odd game, defensive performances last year have their best and worst game removed before determining their average fantasy points allowed for each position.

Three different views are given below – Weeks 1 to 6 show what players will face as they start the season. Weeks 1 through 16 are shown for a full season view and weeks 14 to 16 show the most common weeks for fantasy playoffs. Below that is the NFL schedule marked for each team to show when they have good (green) or bad (red) match-ups. Bye weeks are considered a bad matchup since the player is unavailable for your fantasy team that week. This is important especially considering the Dorey Rule – “draft as if the season only lasted the first six weeks”.

This analysis considers both tight ends and wide receivers awarded 0.1 points per received yard and six point touchdowns.

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Best Schedules:

Jets – It seems somewhat of a waste to give such a great schedule to one of the worst offenses from last year. This could mean that a nice surprise is in store for Clyde Gates or Stephen Hill. Or a player to be named later. Mostly seems like a waste until the offense shows improvement.

Cowboys – A bad rushing schedule makes this look ever better. Dez Bryant suddenly turned into a stud halfway through last year and now a nice schedule makes his star shine no less as brightly. The question is if it means Miles Austin has any chance to redeem himself.

Broncos – Peyton Manning had nice success with Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker last year. Now Wes Welker is added into the mix while the Broncos only face one of the worst 20 defensive matchups of 2012. Just one. Maybe there will be enough throwing here to make both Welker and Thomas into a top ten receiver.

Worst Schedules:

Titans – The worst part of the Titans’ schedule is not that they have to face six bad matchups, it is that they only get a league-wide low of one game against one of the 20 best matchups from 2012. Kenny Britt has trouble enough staying out of trouble and being healthy.

Bills – Half of their games go against one of the worst 20 matchups from last year and Kevin Kolb has to learn a new offense and gain chemistry with Steve Johnson who still is not Larry Fitzgerald. And Kolb never made Fitz look that great with a nice schedule.

Week – By – Week

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